Tuesday's P-I: "County elections director resigns"
Dean Logan, the politically battle-weary director of King County elections, is resigning to take the No. 2 elections job in Los Angeles, prompting County Executive Ron Sims to delay moving the county to a virtually all-mail voting system.Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at June 13, 2006 12:15 AM | Email ThisIn an interview Monday, Logan said a factor in his decision to leave his job as director of the Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division was the "toxic environment" surrounding the elections operation. It heated up after the contested 2004 governor's election and intensified again recently over Sims' vote-by-mail plan.
Good luck LA....
Posted by: Karl on June 13, 2006 12:27 AMBut this is bad news, too. My sister's family lives in L.A. county (where I was born). Now SHE gets to suffer through all the incompetence and flat-out dishonesty (c'mon, Stefan has shown us all that ballot reports were bogus, etc, so don't tell me otherwise) in elections. Gotta go warn her.
Gotta warn you too, Dean. It's a whole new world down there. Moves pretty fast. You may get swallowed up in it.
Posted by: Michele on June 13, 2006 12:30 AMLogan is a perfect choice for her deputy.
Wonder what job he's gonna find down there for his wife, Winnie Flores-Logan, whom he got "nepotized" into the deputy auditor's slot In Kitsap County.
Posted by: Insider on June 13, 2006 12:46 AMMay Ron Sims' replacement for Mr. Logan be fair, trustworthy, and competent. May he or she instill uniform standards in every count, and treat observers and workers with respect. May he or she stand up for what is right, and not what is expedient, popular, or motivated by partisanship.
Posted by: Tim B. on June 13, 2006 01:14 AMIn short, Dean leaving the fray does not mean the battle stops. It is time to hold Ron's feet to the fire.
I am SO glad Dean Logan is out. Hopefully they will get someone competent to fill the spot.
OTOH, they haven't filled the other spot yet either. So this could be interesting,
Posted by: My Boaz's Ruth on June 13, 2006 06:42 AMWho's next on your hit list boys?
Fair and balanced reporting at Sound Politics strikes another blow for freedom and democracy.
Heroes, every one of you.
"Junta"?
I do not think that means what you think it means.
Posted by: ScottM on June 13, 2006 06:51 AMI live in Kitsap does this mean that Dean's wife is resigning here too? Perhaps our all mail voting could change. Hmmm...is there a BIG problem in Kitsap & she is the one getting out of Dodge? Have you gotten the transaction logs from Kitsap yet?
When the D'Rats leave the ship I wonder if it's sinking and start to look for the lifeboats.
Thanks Stefan! You are the Master of The Database!!
Posted by: Ken M on June 13, 2006 06:57 AM
Heroes, every one of you.
You're welcome. Where do I send the invoice?
PS> I'm sorry we don't have Napoleon Dynamite to kick around anymore.
Are saying that Soundpolitics.org and King County Republicans have more influence in KC politics that Horsesass.org and King County Democrats?
But Goldy has his own radio show and Stefan doesn't.....
Dean Logan made several large mistakes and when light was shined on them, his lustre faded.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on June 13, 2006 07:10 AMI tried State service once and I couldn't go along with the corruption and special favors. In other words, my conscience didn't fit in.
Logan, it seems, either is incompetent or has no conscience. I vote the former.
Posted by: swatter on June 13, 2006 07:17 AMJean Godden, if she were gay/of color..
ah, ..?
Look out LA!
Posted by: JCM on June 13, 2006 07:48 AMMaria Cantwell is deeply saddened.
Posted by: Brent in Ferndale on June 13, 2006 08:07 AM1. wouldn't it be intresting if now that Logan is gone vaccant positions started filling up.
2. perhaps SoCal figured they needed someone with Logan's abilities after the liberalcrats could not manage to win Legislative district 50 just a few days ago.
Posted by: TrueSoldier on June 13, 2006 08:29 AMI am also a Kitsap County Resident. It is not Winnie that needs to go, but current County Auditor Karen Flynn. She trained Dean Logan, hired his wife, and convinced the County Commissioners on All Mail Voting. We both know that the All Mail Voting hasn't done what she claimed (less expensive, more voters). And she has and still strongly supports Dean Logan through all of his lies and deceit. If we want change in Kitsap County she needs to go. She is up for re-election this year and Steve Stagner (R) is running against her. You can check him out at www.votestagner.com.
Posted by: Shannon C on June 13, 2006 08:37 AMHis immediate new job in LA is a perfect illustration of "it's not what you know, it's WHO you know".
Had the Times and P-I not joined in ruling-class solidarity to shut off all curiosity, let alone any reporting on Logan's departmental misfeasance, the omitted scrutiny would have made plain his low-grade performance.
Evidence of what Logan didn't know, and what he didn't do (and other dubious things he did do), was clearly and repeatedly documented on this blog, but that solidarity between MSM and governing bodies was sufficient for them to reject the abundant evidence out of hand - since it hadn't come from 'one of us'.
Posted by: Hank Bradley on June 13, 2006 08:41 AMDeanoccio lives here and his wife, Winnie, is second in command of the Kitsap County Auditor's Office Elections Department. She's a naturalized Mexican from LA.
Looks like the Deanoccio family is making new roots down in Winnie's barrio. WOOHOO!
Posted by: Good day in Kitsap too on June 13, 2006 08:42 AMStagner's campaign's wheels have fallen off. He hasn't filed a PDC since he filed a C-1. He's raised and spent money yet he hasn't reported. Rumor has it he's quit, yet he has yet to inform the Kitsap Republican Party about his intentions.
If Stagner cannot keep his PDC's in order, what would he do in Port Orchard?
That's what happens when a political organization goes begging for candidates.
Posted by: a good day in Kitsap too on June 13, 2006 08:53 AMI would also like to remind Mr. Logan: A "toxic environment" that he created and fostered.
Posted by: G Jiggy on June 13, 2006 09:25 AM"...a council or committee for political or governmental purposes; a group of persons controlling a government especially after a revolutionary seizure of power" [italics mine] (http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/Junta).
Dude, you need to get out of the Sixties and put down the propaganda. Join the real world. Your bumper-sticker philosophy doesn't cut it in the 21st century.
Now with regard to the topic at hand...
Logan's resignation is a huge win for the citizens of King County. It's also interesting that suddenly the timetable for conversion to all-mail voting has been pushed back. What else is going on over at the K.C. Politburo?
Push harder!
Posted by: ERNurse on June 13, 2006 09:44 AMNow King County has an elections department without a leader. One could argue that it has not had a leader since at least 2003.
Unfortunately, Ron Sims will not feel the heat for his ongoing part in the failed King County elections department. I am very glad that Logan is gone, but that is just the beginning. Hopefully, King County gets some good people to fil the current vacancies in the elections department. So, do you suppose that Ron Sims will have free reign is selecting a successor for Dean Logan?
Posted by: Gary on June 13, 2006 09:45 AMThat is disheartening. Especially since one of Stagner's campaign issues is making a county financial report open to the public which Flynn hasn't shared with the public since she has been in office.
Posted by: Shannon C on June 13, 2006 09:53 AMThe fascinating thing is how it is outside forces that caused all the problems in his eyes.
In typical politrickery fashion Sims will appoint someone that will need time, will need space, will need a cushion, will need an understanding, will need less oversight, will need room to fix the mess the evil partisans would not let Dean Logan fix! HHHHAAAAHA
This is like Joseph Hazelwood getting the helm of a cruise ship about 1 day after the Exxon Valdez hit the rocks!
The Cantwell campaign is in full chaos control mode ? how are they going to make up the vote difference they?ll need?
To bad he was not resigning to go to Club Fed....thanks to all the brave prosecutors at the state and federal level that could not bring it upon themselves to enforce the law. Don't preach to me about my blackberry bushes.
Good riddance!
Posted by: Patrick on June 13, 2006 10:01 AMThe sub-headline of the PI story says: "In response, Sims says that he will delay the new all-mail voting system"
Is it possible Logan became a sacrificial goat in order to stall 'all mail voting' because Sims wants to back away from the controversy of it? I mean, really, can we take any action of these mini-dictators at face value or are we looking at layer upon layer of subterfuge for their own nefarious political purposes?
Posted by: Cheryl on June 13, 2006 10:29 AMNow's the time to contact all our L.A. contacts. They'll know who to pass the info about Logan too.
I'm betting that Logan does not last 5 years in L.A. before he is run out of there.
Posted by: Janet on June 13, 2006 10:38 AMToday is a good day...Time for a Conservative night out to celebrate!
Posted by: GS on June 13, 2006 10:40 AMThe "toxic environment" was Logan's own creation. His repeated refusal to provide documents as required by law under FOIA and baldfaced lies about what was going on in the elections department illustrates how he doesn't give a horse's patoot about fair elections. Good job, Stefan, for keeping his feet to the fire! Now, if we can just convince King Sims to abdicate...
Posted by: Burdabee on June 13, 2006 10:49 AMLA's loss is our gain.
As for replacements, Stefan, I hope you call for a bipartisan group of concerned citizens such as Jason Osgood, Julie Petingill, yourself, people from Ron Sims office, etc. to all have a role in interviewing a new Elections Director. It will go a long, long way towards restoring trust in KCE if more people are involved with any new appointee. As many of us have said many times, it's not that Democrats have won races that is frustrating, it's the culture of secrecy and error that Dean Logan presided over that caused the uproar.
If Sims is smart, this is the path he will take. It may not be the optimum move for partisan Democrats, but making this kind of concession now, would be a highly praised compromise that may pave the path for him in any future gubernatorial aspirations.
Posted by: Jeff B. on June 13, 2006 11:18 AMAlso Logan has successfully kept the voter rolls in LA filled with illegal aliens that have now voted to give California back to Mexico.
Ron Sims while still trying to find a replacement for Dean Logan hires him as a consultant and pays him all the money they were going to use to replace the viaduct.
The possibility of clean elections in King County is still a pipe dream as long as Sims is involved. Perhaps hiring a private firm to handle the elections would work better, it couldn't be worse!
Posted by: Skeptic on June 13, 2006 11:33 AMI agree with the Cantwell comments above--she has to be wondering how she'll get another 3k "swing" votes in the last minute without such a friendly atmosphere in KCE to help her out. Or maybe she'll just take a job in LA, too?
I can hope, can't I?
Posted by: Marc on June 13, 2006 12:26 PMDeanoccio lives here and his wife, Winnie, is second in command of the Kitsap County Auditor's Office Elections Department. She's a naturalized Mexican from LA.
Looks like the Deanoccio family is making new roots down in Winnie's barrio. WOOHOO!
Posted by: Good day in Kitsap too on June 13, 2006 08:42 AM
It figures you would be racist and categorize her as Mexican. Winnie Flores-Logan is a Chamorro from the island of Guam. Learn your nationalities, por favor.
Posted by: Bill F. on June 13, 2006 05:15 PMHe dodged a very controversial subject without losing face.
He is free to pick a succesor for Dean. I imagine that the person is already in route to assume the position. And chances are that the replacement will make Dean look good.
Be careful what you wish for.
Posted by: Snuffy on June 13, 2006 05:41 PMRon Sims doesn't appear to be too angry over Logan's departure either.....
I think this move was possibly coordinated by Sims and his cronies in an effort to give the appearance of wiping the KC elections slate clean.
Sims, Logan, etc..were never able to calm the public over the 2004 elections fraud - and they received powerful opposition to their plans for the All Mail vote... This resignation is an effort to give the public the impression that all will be "fine" now in KC elections! That questionable director is now gone and you can trust us again..and allow the All Mail Voting system to replace the conventional... ....(NOT!)
VA is more trusted and look at what a VA employee did.
Posted by: anon on June 13, 2006 06:54 PM1) you all own guns or are in favor of it
2) you all are vigilante crusading against various people you don't like in government
3) there's no oversight to what you do, only partisanship
4) You got one and you want to get more
5) Its entirely unclear what exactly you are battling for to a casual observer other than partianship. I am without doubt that if Republicans won narrow majority in KC that you all would be cheering rather than sharpening your long knives.
So whatever you had objections to regarding the term Junta, I guess I jumped the gun a little, you arent completely in power yet, but your goal is obviously to be, and nationally, your ilk are already.
The tactics, the smear politics, the one sided reporting, the lack of objectivity, the circle-jerk of everyone dogpiling on anyone with an opposing view. Its all there. So "Junta" was not exactly textbook, it was seeing this for what it is, a bunch of vigilante jerks with agendas trying to create George Bush style Republicanism in Washington State.
No thanks.
I repeat, if this was a bipartisan effort to reform KC elections, why is Soundpolitics.org a right wing only platform, with a regular advertisement for a Dino Rossi book on its front page?
If its not a bipartisan effort, stop thinking of yourselves as being, and start owning up to what you are, a bunch of partisans out to nuke any Democrat you can, By Any Means Necessary.
And the 60s taunts. Look fumbleduck, I am less pro hippie than most. What I am is disgusted by the hypocrisy I see here. You come out like a typical Republican. I'm waiting for the dreaded L word to come flying next.
Posted by: DaveD on June 13, 2006 07:00 PMHe should also aspire to be the Auditor for Mexico during their Presidential Elections - then the far left socialist Obrador would be sure to win...
Posted by: KS on June 13, 2006 09:33 PMI love how you come in and chastise SP for being "partisan". Have you spent an equal time over at HA and accused them of being "partisan"?
I admit, I'm conservative and I would much rather see someone that shared most of my beliefs elected rather than putting someone in office that shares very few of my beliefs. These days, it means avoiding most Democrats. SO WHAT?
If the situation was reversed and Dino won after losing two previous counts - yeah, I'd accept it (if Dino did). But, if the Dems bothered to uncover as much of the crap that happened in the elections division, I would be clamoring for KCRE to get cleaned up just as much as I do today. I wouldn't be fighting against closing the loopholes and cutting off all possible avenues for cheating. I think many on this board would respond the same way.
However, I don't know that we would put as much effort into digging out the issues - the Dems would have needed to do that, but we would support their efforts because it makes the system better for ALL of us.
You miss this distinction in your own partisan world.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on June 13, 2006 09:43 PM